Alex Garland’s The Beach is a stunning novel, one that deals with human self destruction just as much as it does with backpacking and adventure; but there’s a side to the story that has always piqued my interest – that of parallel universes. Although the setup (with Richard and Françoise opening discussing the notion under the stars) is played upon in dialog and far less subtle than it is in something like Donnie Darko, the concept that from that point on the travellers are experiencing an ‘alternate’ reality intrigues me considerably, even though I’m probably in the minority that have ever thought this way. In my mind at least, the movie adaptation pushes this idea further, with the story’s descent into darkness encapsulated by a slightly different version of the group photograph than was taken at the very end of the film.
What does this have to do with Gran Turismo 5? Well, in a parallel universe, the game is already out. Last week, Gran Turismo 5 was released to a baying crowd, eager for the game that many people actually bought a PlayStation 3 for. The Trophy lists were leaked a week prior when reviewers got their hands on early code, and the full list of tracks, cars and sponsors was dumped, unceremoniously, here at TheSixthAxis. The whole ride was a PR wet dream, there were no delays, no hiccups at the factory and no hackers to spoil the party. Some people have already unlocked the X1.
Of course, this didn’t happen. Not only is the game not out but we’re still without a revised release date, even though some people claim to have the game, legally or otherwise. You’d think all this, from the slipping of the schedules to the mentioning of GT6, would be a disaster for Sony – it’s not, in my opinion, and I’ll tell you why. Since the 13th of October, when it was first circulating that the game would be delayed, we’ve written (including this blog) twenty stories about the game. Twenty, in less than a month. Sure, not all of them have been entirely positive, but we’ve given the game more press and hype than probably anything else in such a short period. Why? Because the game is hot news, it’s at the forefront of people’s minds, and you can’t go anywhere without hearing about it.
And, you guys want to talk about it, too: we’ve had over a thousand comments on the game since it was delayed (1085 at the time of writing this, to be exact) – for a multiformat site that isn’t focused on Gran Turismo I reckon that’s a substantial amount of discussion. And, naturally, it’s not just us. Every site, forum and blog with half a nod towards the PlayStation brand (or motor racing in general) is covering everything that Polyphony Digital say and do, and we’re all desperate for Sony to give us a release date so we can all rejoice in the knowledge that we’re getting the game before Christmas. Think about that for a second, the game’s already delayed but as soon as Sony say “it’s out on…” we’ll be deliriously happy and thankful. Days will be booked off, holidays cancelled and the supply of pizzas into the country will triple.
Any other game and we’d probably be sick of it by now, but this is Gran Turismo 5’s greatest trick – by the game being delayed, we’ve really not thought about anything else, and it’s probably safe to say that any cash reserved for Sony’s big hope for 2010 is still very much reserved. Of course, I’m not suggesting that the delay was intentional (it clearly wasn’t) but if Sony can pull off a release date announcement this week it’s going to put a spanner in the works for Microsoft’s European launch for Kinect, for example – once again taking the gaming press’ eyes off the rest of the industry and pointing them right back towards GT5. Will we get a new date this week? I’d hope so, and part of me desperately wants it to be very soon indeed.
Which parallel universe would Sony prefer – the one with the game already out and on the shelves or the one that means you can’t load up a gaming website without some mention of Gran Turismo 5 on it? And rest assured the game will sell regardless of this delay – Gran Turismo 5 Prologue shifted at least four million copies. We’d all like the game in our hands, but perhaps the waiting just makes the whole thing just that little bit more exciting…
This blog is the personal opinion of the author as does not represent the opinions of TheSixthAxis or Sony.
hol
As always, we all know it will be worth the wait and it’ll shift ps3s worldwide to those that have been waiting just for this one game! Personally, I’m getting a little impatient now that is so close ;)
Jumping Monks
Since news of the delay hit, or rather slapped us all in the face, my yearn for all thing’s GT has trebbled. Most evenings now consist of trawling through 20+ pages of forum guff on GT planet, just to read that small glimmer of hope, otherwise lost under the radar. I have hoovered up every piece of info possible and pieced it together. Everything in front of me has been bought as a result of GT5. (read HDTV, and PS3) There’s no doubt in my mind GT5 will be the best GT to date. People have criticised GT games of being the same thing, but with better graphics, and more cars. Without PD really throwing anything new into the mix, but thats all I have ever wished of a GT game. They got it right the first time, why fix what isn’t broke? I agree with you nofi, hype has certainly been created because of the delay, and I for one am looking forward to it more than ever.
JaffaMan24
“Since news of the delay hit, or rather slapped us all in the face, my yearn for all thing’s GT has trebbled. Most evenings now consist of trawling through 20+ pages of forum guff on GT planet, just to read that small glimmer of hope, otherwise lost under the radar. I have hoovered up every piece of info possible and pieced it together. Everything in front of me has been bought as a result of GT5.”
That’s just described me perfectly! I’m going out to buy a Logitech GT from Argos shortly since they’re going cheap!
Gadbury
GT has innovated more than you (or others) may think over the series, in and outside of the game. Here are some I can think of off the top of my head:
Photo mode
B-Spec
3D
Data logger import
Head tracking
GT Academy
Multiple display output
Course Maker
Karting
I know there are more but my memory fails me!
Loxstokk
+1 :( it’s all getting a bit OCD now. I’ve nearly worn out my fruit phone checking for the tiniest morsel of info. Thanks for this artie nofi. It’s nice to read something gt related that engages the brain and provokes thought and isn’t , ” OMG! My neighbours sisters husband works at game stop and he says it’s out out in march 2007!!!!?!&@!!”
Shadow0410
Interesting article, good read :)
kahana95
The delay in announcing a new release date could be intentional to build up suspense and get people talking about all the different dates for release
Hoodie
The delay was for the new anti-piracy software apparently, the added build up and suspense is merely a by-product of the delay.
I go away to Oz for three weeks on the 17th Dec, I’m praying for a release before that or I’ll be grumpy all holiday! Even if we win the Ashes!
Origami Killer
i wasnt interested about it at all but now since the delay i decided to have a few goes at the gt concept on the store, and loved that so for some reason i really want it now, but only for xmas, dont mid when it comes out just before the end of the yyear
GranTurismo-Disciple
Excellent read this! Nice 1 nofi. I must admit i have been angry about all the delays and even thought about cancelling my pre-order but there is that love for GT i have inside that doesn’t let me, i have played forza, race pro etc, but i have grown up with the GT series and the hours i have put into them are unreal, in my eyes this game will be awesome cos when have the GT series failed to deliver??…. I can’t wait whooop whooop
GranTurismo-Disciple
@hoodie the delay wasn’t for the anti piracy m8, kaz told every1 the delay was cos he had to tweak a few things in the game, that’s what he answered when he announced the disc were being stamped..
hazelam
yeah it’s good that people are talking about the game, but it would be better if they were buying it and playing it surely.
i’d imagine there were people expecting to be playing the game in a couple of weeks and then suddenly, they have no idea when they’ll be playing it.
and if it doesn’t make it out for christmas then it’s definitely much worse for the game.
i know yamauchi’s a perfectionist and all that, but at some point they’ve got to say to the guy, enough, it’s done, put the finishing touches and send it to the testers.
i know rushing games is not a good thing, but many creative types can have a tendency to never finish if they’re not given a deadline.
and i say this as somebody who considers the artist more important than the publisher.
i just hope this wasn’t another game running scared from cod, it’s no wonder mw2 sold so well last year, all the other big games got put back till this year, it’s like one of those self fulfilling prophecies.
DJ-Katy
Yes, and frankly a fair few of those 20 stories have been tabloid journalism which serve no purpose other than to build the hype.
topgear
I have got an email from amazon stating that it will be shipped on the 17th :)